03/04 - 03/06 - Hontoon Island, Florida 2025

Colby, thanks for posting all of this information on launching and access. I was just about to post some questions about this… then saw all of your information. My commute to Tampa was successful with zero tire or trailer bearing/hub or brake issues so all of my time and work up north paid off. I did have some bunk-board failures however (corroded carbon steel brackets).

Anyway, it didn’t cause any boat damage so that was good. Working on my trailer this week down here in Tampa and my ‘Skimmer’ is itching to get wet soon!

Hope to see you and others at the gathering in March! The Skimmer & I will be the newbies this year!

Papa-P
 
We are planning on attending if weather allows. We had 17” of snow and are still recovering from that. It was the third largest snow on record for one day in this area.
Looking forward to seeing friends we made at the “Meet in the Middle”gathering in 2023 and cruising on the St. John’s.
-John and Linda
“Dragonfly”
 
Since the mid 1970's I have been interested in visiting Hontoon Island State Park. Now that I have a C-Dory my interest can become a reality. Because I live in Tallahassee, I will have to trailer my boat.

I would appreciate someone replying (posting) the names of private marina's along the St. Johns River from Aster to south of Honeoon Island where I can launch my boat and leave my trailer and tow vehicle for several nights for a fee.

Dawn Treader
 
DawnTreader":2z9buq0y said:
Since the mid 1970's I have been interested in visiting Hontoon Island State Park. Now that I have a C-Dory my interest can become a reality. Because I live in Tallahassee, I will have to trailer my boat.

I would appreciate someone replying (posting) the names of private marina's along the St. Johns River from Aster to south of Honeoon Island where I can launch my boat and leave my trailer and tow vehicle for several nights for a fee.

Dawn Treader
Click to expand...

Dawn, many, if not most, of us use Ed Stone County Park. It's 4 miles downstream (north) of Hontoon Island SP, and cost is FREE! Several of us have left our rigs parked there for up to three weeks without any issue. In fact one of the Brats accidently left his keys on top his dash in his unlocked F250, and nothing was touched several days later. Please see my post a few posts above about the launch there. I know one past Brat that launched and left their rig locked in a marina parking lot at Astor. Holly Bluff marina and Hontoon Landing, are both right across the river from Hontoon. I'm not sure what they offer for parking, but I would imagine they charge for it. Colby
 
We have launched our C Dory at Ed Stone park. and as Colby, we have left our rig almost a month there, with no issues. The ramps at Ed Stone are good--in fact better than several private marina ramps I have used in that area.

Next to Ed Stone is a private RV Park/Marina. I have used this several years after selling my c dory, camping in our RV and launching my 18' Caracal Cat at that marina--and keeping it in a slip near the RV. I much prefer Ed Stone.

At Tallahassee, you are only a fairly easy days drive to Ed Stone. we do one day coming back from Ed Stone to Pensacola, but going we stop just near the I 10, I 75 junctin (Casey Jones 'RV park as a "boater home".
 
For those newcomers to Florida:

The Florida Interstates and toll (Turnpike) roads offer free Road Ranger roadside assistance for motorists. Call *FHP (*347) on your cell phone to summon one. They have trucks with a huge flashing <<<<MOVE OVER sign and more red pylons than you can carry, big impact wrenches for trailer tire changes and activate large lighted info signs miles behind you “DISABLED VEHICLE RIGHT SHOULDER MILE 112 AHEAD.” This is reason enough for us to stick to the interstates or turnpike when towing. What look like 4 lane large roads on the map might not have a wide enough shoulder to get your rig far out of traffic lanes and no Road Ranger service.

https://www.fdot.gov/traffic/cvotim/tim ... /home.htm/

If you are heading further south or into the keys on the Turnpike, consider getting a SunPass or EZPass windshield car transponder ($4.99), since the tolls for trailers go way up real quick via Toll by Plate bills or cash.

https://www.sunpass.com/en/home/index.shtml

The Mosquito (Florida’s State Bird) is best repelled by a Themacell gizmo for around 15 feet in no wind outdoors… no odor or DEET. Larger WalMarts carry them and refill fuel and pads. However, if your boat is backed up to mangroves in the glades or keys, you might have to button up the boat for an hour surrounding dawn or sunset no matter what due to ‘no see ums.’

Thermacell MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller

Hope these suggestions prove useful and to see you at Hontoon!

John
 
gulfcoast john":38isuo5v said:
...

The Mosquito (Florida’s State Bird) is best repelled by a Themacell gizmo for around 15 feet in no wind outdoors… no odor or DEET. Larger WalMarts carry them and refill fuel and pads. ...
Click to expand...

Thermocell may not contain DEET, but the chemical used is classified as a non-persistent insecticide, not a repellent. It is only effective against mosquitoes and is highly toxic to cats. The chemical will not damage plastics like DEET.

Just FYI.

(P.S. I use them.)

A fairly simple way to keep mosquitoes away is to sit in the breeze of a fan.
 
I plan to be there with the little Marinaut. Thanks Tom & Joyce… you know I’m good for carrying tables or whatever needs to be done. I’m so looking forward to seeing y’all again
Best
Dale
 
John, Are you saying that nothing repels the No-see'ums, Only Screens? While we have them at the Jersey Shore they generally disappear by the time we would take our summer vacations.
I remember your State Birds. Shelling, artifact hunting and Redfishing the back bay from Holley to Gulf breeze I've almost been carried off. If not by the Skeeters then the Gators.

gulfcoast john":116gefg4 said:
For those newcomers to Florida:

The Florida Interstates and toll (Turnpike) roads offer free Road Ranger roadside assistance for motorists. Call *FHP (*347) on your cell phone to summon one. They have trucks with a huge flashing <<<<MOVE OVER sign and more red pylons than you can carry, big impact wrenches for trailer tire changes and activate large lighted info signs miles behind you “DISABLED VEHICLE RIGHT SHOULDER MILE 112 AHEAD.” This is reason enough for us to stick to the interstates or turnpike when towing. What look like 4 lane large roads on the map might not have a wide enough shoulder to get your rig far out of traffic lanes and no Road Ranger service.

https://www.fdot.gov/traffic/cvotim/tim ... /home.htm/

If you are heading further south or into the keys on the Turnpike, consider getting a SunPass or EZPass windshield car transponder ($4.99), since the tolls for trailers go way up real quick via Toll by Plate bills or cash.

https://www.sunpass.com/en/home/index.shtml

The Mosquito (Florida’s State Bird) is best repelled by a Themacell gizmo for around 15 feet in no wind outdoors… no odor or DEET. Larger WalMarts carry them and refill fuel and pads. However, if your boat is backed up to mangroves in the glades or keys, you might have to button up the boat for an hour surrounding dawn or sunset no matter what due to ‘no see ums.’

Thermacell MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller

Hope these suggestions prove useful and to see you at Hontoon!

John
Click to expand...
 
Hi Don,

In our experience, both mosquitoes and no-see-ums are lazy fliers and deterred by any steady breeze over 3-5 MPH. As Steve notes, we’ve used a Wall of Fans (three 12” Fan-Tastic 12v super efficient fans mainly used by RV’ers that Bob discovered. I can’t find them anymore; the company was acquired by Dometic in 2017.

12v RV fan

We have observed no-see-ums, unlike mosquitoes, fly right through the Thermacell zone and drop dead mid-flight. When I forget to turn it off, in the morning thousands of dead ones surround the gizmo. Both require a blood meal for the protein to lay eggs, male mosquitoes don’t bite and feed on flower nectar. Insect screening is so dense it’s hard to see through so it is not used by boat builders. I don’t have an explanation, just observations. If there’s no wind during those periods, just button up the boat.

John
 
Looks like we have a fair number of first timers coming to Hontoon this year. Fantastic!
After the gathering I will be doing a 10 day cruise on the St. John’s and various connecting rivers. If anyone wishes to join us for all or part you are welcome. I don’t know the exact itinerary. It all depends on weather and water depths. The river flows freely and so do we.
Also ….gather up all unwanted boating goodies that you no longer need. We hold a silent auction to help Hontoon Island State Park. It’s a lot of fun and you could get a great deal on something for your boat.

More news next week……Tom
 
Sounds like something good to me for I'd like never to smell Deet or Citronella again but I suspect there are uses for all products. I'll try this so called Thermacell Gizmo. Right now in PA we only have Ice-Skeeters.

Donald Tyson":2jeopsoe said:
John, Are you saying that nothing repels the No-see'ums, Only Screens? While we have them at the Jersey Shore they generally disappear by the time we would take our summer vacations.
I remember your State Birds. Shelling, artifact hunting and Redfishing the back bay from Holley to Gulf breeze I've almost been carried off. If not by the Skeeters then the Gators.

gulfcoast john":2jeopsoe said:
For those newcomers to Florida:

The Florida Interstates and toll (Turnpike) roads offer free Road Ranger roadside assistance for motorists. Call *FHP (*347) on your cell phone to summon one. They have trucks with a huge flashing <<<<MOVE OVER sign and more red pylons than you can carry, big impact wrenches for trailer tire changes and activate large lighted info signs miles behind you “DISABLED VEHICLE RIGHT SHOULDER MILE 112 AHEAD.” This is reason enough for us to stick to the interstates or turnpike when towing. What look like 4 lane large roads on the map might not have a wide enough shoulder to get your rig far out of traffic lanes and no Road Ranger service.

https://www.fdot.gov/traffic/cvotim/tim ... /home.htm/

If you are heading further south or into the keys on the Turnpike, consider getting a SunPass or EZPass windshield car transponder ($4.99), since the tolls for trailers go way up real quick via Toll by Plate bills or cash.

https://www.sunpass.com/en/home/index.shtml

The Mosquito (Florida’s State Bird) is best repelled by a Themacell gizmo for around 15 feet in no wind outdoors… no odor or DEET. Larger WalMarts carry them and refill fuel and pads. However, if your boat is backed up to mangroves in the glades or keys, you might have to button up the boat for an hour surrounding dawn or sunset no matter what due to ‘no see ums.’

Thermacell MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller

Hope these suggestions prove useful and to see you at Hontoon!

John
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
We use red low luminosity lights inside and in the cockpit. This does not attact the misquotes and no seeem. We also have used army surplus flying insects screen. Buy a tent cover for $10 and velcro it on the openings--no .no-see-ems in the boat.
 
Nicely rounded and complete conversational post! Thanks John, lol.

Colby you live up there where there be Skeeter as well. In fact didn't you Pilot them? What do you use for Skeeters?

colbysmith":2h0ucuo9 said:
Help TYBOO MIKE, here's another stretched out thread. I think John stretched it out this time with his link. lol Colby
Click to expand...
 
We are going to divert from our Great Loop trip 170 miles south down the St Johns to meet everyone. Not quite sure how or where to sign up but we're gunna be there for sure.

Chris Watson
2005 CD-25 "Invictus"
 
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